Tasting Profile
November 2022
The Morillon Chardonnay is sourced from 0.1 hectare within the oldest Chardonnay block (1.3 hectares) at Port Phillip Estate’s Red Hill vineyard. This block was planted in 1988 on a site nestled among folds of the hilly country in Red Hill. The Red Hill vineyard is dominated by red basalt, yet the Chardonnay block is planted in an area of sandy grey loam over yellow clay. With maturity, the original block consistently produces wine with an extra level of structure, balance and intensity. In light of this, we bottle a small portion separately as the ultimate expression of Chardonnay from this vineyard. The fruit was gently whole-bunch pressed directly into French oak 228L, 350L and 500L barrels (18% of which were new), and fermentation occurred spontaneously with ambient yeasts. After fermentation, the wine was aged on lees (without battonage) for 11 months, with the only racking occurring directly prior to bottling. The wine was bottled without fining and with minimal filtration.
Superfine with complex aromas of baking spices, crème fraîche, bran, grapefruit and lime, and an underlying flinty edge. With taut and tight intensity, the
palate delivers citrus flavours that build and drive. The finish is long and powerful, with lime-infused acidity and an alluring grapefruit pithiness. While moreish now, it will significantly benefit from time in the cellar.
13.5% alc.
Tasting Profile 2021
Tasting Profile 2020
Tasting Profile 2019
Reviews
Vinous
Angus Hughson
The super modern 2021 Single Block Morillon Chardonnay is extraordinarily impressive. It opens with smoky, flinty notes over a powerful, precise core of grapefruit and tightly wound oak. It is pretty embryonic, with a firm acid frame holding layers of flavour in check. The youthful, chalky texture is lifted by deft oak handling over a prodigious, although tightly wound finish. It is a sublime expression of Mornington Chardonnay with a long way to rum
96 points
The WineFront, November 2023
Gary Walsh
From a tiny parcel planted in 1988. Plenty of struck match and funk here, but it sits well within the wine, and doesn’t spoil the spicy, limey, fennel-laced delivery of flavour. Tight and flinty, a firm crunch of citrus through more creamy savoury characters. Plenty of energy and grip, with a finish of excellent length and chalkiness, ginger and cinnamon. Excellent wine, it starts wild, and then it pulls the ripcord and delivers.
95 points
The Real Review, December 2023
Aaron Brasher
Complex aromas of grilled nuts, grapefruit pith, melon skin, just-ripe nectarine, white flowers and spice. Layered, mouth-filling and delicious. There’s an array of stone fruit, citus and a lick of nutty, tropical fruit flavours. There’s lovely weight, texture and length. A very classy and complete chardonnay
95 points
The Vintage
The Vineyard
The Port Phillip Estate Red Hill vineyard is located on the Mornington Peninsula on Eocene volcanic soils. Our wines are made from domain grown, handpicked grapes and aim to manifest terroir: the integration of our geology and soils with the macroclimate of our region, the mesoclimates of the various sites within our vineyard and the weather of the annual grape growing season. Our cultural operations in the vineyard and practices in the winery endeavour to articulate these unique characteristics diligently, respectfully and without artifice.